Barbara Kolo was born and educated in New York. Having developed an appreciation for art from an early age, her interest in drawing and painting lead her to attend the High School of Art and Design, followed by the School of Visual Arts. She received her BFA from SVA.

During the 1980's Barbara built a career as an award-winning art director in creative advertising for films and television. She is the recipient of several Key Art Awards, a Don Belding Award, and a New York Festivals Gold Medal among many others. Her career brought her to Los Angeles in 1989. As an independent freelance art director she worked directly with major film studios and design studios specializing in film advertising. In 1991, she became the Director of Print Advertising at Universal Studios.

Barbara's early interest in drawing and painting had never diminished. During the early '90's, she followed the urge to develop her own personal artistic voice and began create her own works. Her drawings were soon being included in local and national group shows. Her focus slowly changed from commercial art to fine art.

The artist moved with her husband to Paris, France in 2000. She rented an art studio by La Bastille, and participated in "Genie de la Bastille" an event similar to the Venice Art Walk in California. Her paintings were part of several group exhibitions in France including one at the Palais des Art in Marseilles. In 2003, the couple returned to Santa Monica and Barbara re-established herself in the local art community.

Currently, JanKossen Contemporary represents Barbara’s work in Basel, Switzerland, Fresh Paint Art Advisors as well as Artspace Warehouse in Los Angeles. She is a member of the Los Angeles Art Association.